A California judge says he is finalizing a settlement worth more than $1 billion in cases where motorists say the value of their Toyotas plunged after recalls over claims they unexpectedly accelerated.

Judge finalizing deal in Toyota acceleration cases

A California judge says he is finalizing a settlement worth more than $1 billion in cases where motorists say the value of their Toyotas plunged after recalls over claims they unexpectedly accelerated.

U.S. District Judge James Selna approved the deal Friday, closing one major chapter of a four-year legal saga involving Toyota Motor Corp.

Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against Toyota since 2009, when the Japanese automaker started receiving numerous complaints that its cars accelerated on their own, causing crashes, injuries and even deaths.